Birth certificate
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In most countries, a birth certificate is an official legal identity document usually containing most of the following information:
- Name at birth
- Date and time of birth
- Sex
- Place of birth
- Birth registration number
- Legal parent(s)
The certificate is issued shortly after a person's birth, usually after the mother's physician files the required forms with the appropriate government agency. To obtain a birth certificate for a newborn is normally compulsory.
The official birth certificate is stored at a government record office. In Canada and the United States of America, it is stored with the government of the receiver's state or province. In some American states, the responsibility for such records has been delegated to counties. In England & Wales, it is stored at the General Register Office.
A person can obtain a copy of their own certificate, and in many places, a member of the general public can obtain a copy of anyone else's birth certificate upon paying a small fee.
The birth certificate is used to authenticate one's identity and nationality, and assist with obtaining government-issued identity documents such as a passport or driver's license. Holding a birth certificate makes it easier to prove citizenship in nations where citizenship depends upon location of birth.